Research launched today shows the extent of progress being made by countries across the Commonwealth in upholding the rights of LGBT citizens.

The research shows that many governments are reforming laws, speaking out to protect minorities and creating new policies to educate societies.

Many of these have been undertaken with the support of local LGBT communities and organisations.

The research is contained in a new report – A Commonwealth Toolkit for Policy Progress on LGBT Rights published by the Royal Commonwealth Society, the Kaleidoscope Trust and the Commonwealth Equality Network.

Highlights of this policy progress include non-discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation in employment law in countries as diverse as Botswana, Seychelles, Samoa and Saint Lucia.

Other progressive changes have included a repeal of colonial-era bans on consensual same sex relations between adults – most recently occurring in Mozambique.

In addition, there have also been supreme court judgments upholding the rights of ‘third gender’ groups such as Hijras and Kothis in India and Pakistan.

The report also highlights that, despite the fact that 40 of the 53 Commonwealth members criminalise same sex relations between consenting adults in some way, the modern Commonwealth can play a positive role in improving the lives of LGBT citizens.

Speaking about the report, the Director of the Royal Commonwealth Society Michael Lake CBE said, “We have got to move beyond a finger wagging approach and use the Commonwealth to offer practical support to governments wanting to make positive change to support LGBT citizens”.

The role of local civil society groups in supporting governments to create policies that protect the rights of LGBT citizens is another feature of the report.

It includes several examples of collaboration between governments and LGBT communities and organisations in areas of police training, education for health care professionals and anti-bullying campaigns.

Executive Director of the Kaleidoscope Trust, Dr Felicity Daly said, “the growing influence of LGBT activism on national stakeholders demonstrates what can be achieved when such activists have sufficient support to engage in developing effective interventions that are informed by their experiences.”

Many of the laws which discriminate against lesbian, gay and bisexual citizens have their roots in anti-sodomy laws imposed on Commonwealth countries by the British Empire.

Several countries are seeking to reform these laws and increase protections for LGB people.

The Chair of the Commonwealth Equality Network, Rosanna Flamer-Caldera said, “As countries face sometimes insurmountable challenges particularly on LGBTIQ issues, it is more vital now than ever that we push harder for change in the Commonwealth in order to ensure that all LGBTIQ person’s issues are always on the table, with the final goal of decriminalisation in ALL countries of the Commonwealth.”